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Tag: quadruple amputee

Alex Lewis to Climb Res Dashen Mountain in Ethiopia

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As you may have seen on the BBC news last night, the inspirational Alex Lewis is going to take on the challenge of climbing Res Dashen mountain in Ethiopia.

“Alex was diagnosed with a Strep A infection in 2013 which developed into blood poisoning.

It led to the loss of all his limbs and the infection ravaged his face.

But he is now hoping to climb one of Africa’s tallest mountains, Ras Dashen in Ethiopia.

He will use a ground-breaking buggy to get him up most of the 4500m mountain, but he will have to rock climb the last few hundred metres.

He and his team are hoping to make the attempt in January.” (BBC News 23/10/18)

Since recovering from his operations, quadruple amputee Alex has completed several gruelling challenges and is now an inspirational speaker encouraging other amputees by his own example. 

Always keen to keep up with new technology, he had a microchip fitted in January, which has already given him more independence. As he says:

There is so much amazing technology out there and I’m always going to be in this condition so I’m always going to need to keep on top of what’s coming out on the market. And to be a guinea pig with some of this technology is just brilliant and for me it’s going to be hopefully life-changing in the future, so I’m very fortunate.  Alex Lewis

Alex will now be putting yet more new technology to the test on this latest climbing challenge as he will undertake the climb in a ground-breaking buggy which works (in a nutshell) by converting the electrical energy Alex creates by rotating his arms to drive the back wheels forward.

We wish Alex the best of luck for this latest challenge. 

Useful Links:

Quadruple amputee in Africa mountain challenge: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-45945136/quadruple-amputee-alex-lewis-to-climb-ras-dashen-mountain-in-ethiopia

Microchip implant opens doors for amputee: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-dorset-42725099/quadruple-amputee-has-microchip-implant-to-unlock-doors

Brilliant to see a Young Amputee Literally Reaching New Heights

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I wonder who saw Isabelle Weall, a 14 year old quadruple amputee, on the One Show yesterday? 

This inspiring teenager had to have all 4 limbs amputated when she was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis when 7 years old. Izzy was taken ill just hours after going into school as normal and, at one stage, was not expected to live. She fought back, however, and now, after only being fitted with prosthetic limbs in 2011, she has astounded everyone by winning her category at the Schools National Trampolining Competition.

You should always give something you want to do a go, you can’t just sit down and think ‘‘what if I can, what if I can’t’’ you have to try it out. Isabelle Weall

True to her words, not content with this amazing achievement, Izzy’s new ambition is to give racing driving a go! Apparently impressed with her attitude, Team Brit, a motor racing team of disabled drivers, have set the wheels of this ambition in motion(!) by offering to teach her how to drive a racing car.

Determined to inspire other young amputees by example, enterprising Izzy has also set up her own YouTube channel where as well as discussing trampolining, beauty and fashion, she talks about coping with everyday things as a quadruple amputee in a bid to show others what’s possible rather than impossible.

She appeared on the One Show with gold medal winning wheelchair racer, Tanni Grey-Thompson, and retired ballet dancer, Dame Darcey Bussell, a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. One of the contestants in the last series was another inspirational amputee Johnnie Peacock, English sprint runner and gold medal winner at the 2012 Summer Paralympics and 2016 Summer Paralympics. Despite wearing a blade, Johnnie danced a blinder making it to week 9 of the show with his partner, Oti Mabuse. Johnnie, who will now be taking part in the Strictly tour, congratulated Izzy on her achievements via video and, much to Izzy’s delight, Darcey Bussell offered Izzy and her family tickets to a show of their choice.

How amazing to see 2 amputees breaking new ground so spectacularly in one evening. Congratulations to both of them and we expect to hear a lot more about Isabelle in the future…..

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